Olaf Gorter becomes first Dutch scorer in Serie A season

Olaf Gorter has become the first Nederlandse goal‑scorer in the new Serie A season, netting the winning strike for Lecce against Venezia. The 21‑year‑old Amsterdammer’s goal came shortly after the break, securing three points for the southern Italian side in a tightly contested match.

Dutch players yet to score

Niet Donyell Malen of Kenneth Taylor, Teun Koopmeiners of Jayden Addai, have yet to find the net this campaign. Oudgediende Marten de Roon also remains goalless, as does newcomer Kian Fitz‑Jim. Kian Fitz‑Jim, sometimes called Fitz, also remains without a goal.

Gorter logged 21 appearances in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie before Ajax released him from their academy. The now 21‑year‑old Dutchman never broke into Ajax’s first team or even made the bench for an official match.

He moved abroad to join Lecce, where he featured mainly in the club’s top youth side. In two years he amassed nearly 70 youth games, while also picking up minutes with the senior squad, debuting in a cup tie against AC Milan and later making two Serie A appearances.

Dutch women’s sides stumble in Europe as Ajax and PSV lose

Gorter’s winning strike

In the new season Gorter has secured a regular starting spot at Lecce, a status he rewarded with a goal shortly after the interval against Venezia. From the edge of the penalty area he struck home after a defensive lapse, a goal that proved decisive as the home side saw two of its own goals ruled out for handball and off‑side. The home side saw a first‑quarter handball goal and a late off‑side goal dismissed. Gorter thus becomes the first Nederlander to register a goal in this Serie A campaign.

Following the final whistle he was voted Man of the Match, capping a memorable debut goal for the Dutch forward.

Further north, Juventus opened their campaign with a victory over Frosinone, the record champions still chasing another league title since 2020. The only first‑half goal came from Bremer’s header off a cross by Francisco Conceição, while Teun Koopmeiners entered as a substitute in the final ten minutes.